Published at 05:17, Friday, 28 August 2009

A visit to an antique shop led a holidaymaker on a quest to find the history of a Lazonby family – and publish his findings.

Davina Osmon: ’I was surprised when I received the book and to find that Mr Harris included me in it’

Essex man Trevor Harris was staying in a holiday cottage in the village of Murton with his family in 2007 when he and his son Joseph bought 36 old postcards from the Hidden Treasures shop in nearby Appleby.

The messages on the cards were the inspiration for the new book, A Short of History From 36 Postcards – The Andersons of White House, Lazonby.

Trevor said: “The cards were sent by and to the family and spanned the years from 1905 to the 1950s.

“I’d never heard of Lazonby, let alone been there, but I wanted to find out more about the family.

“So began a year-long quest to find out as much as possible of the story behind those cards and the people who sent and received them. The results are set out in this history.”

Trevor, who bought the 36 postcards for £15, admitted that he was more interested in the writing on the back than the views on the front.

As part of his research he contacted the owner of Hidden Treasures, Davina Osmon and their exchange of emails helped in the development of the book.

She said: “I was surprised when I received the book and to find that Mr Harris included me in it.

“I remember him coming into the shop and buying the postcard but I could never have imagined it would lead to this book.

“It is a very interesting story that he has pieced together from reading between the lines of each postcard and it includes many other local families.

“I think it is amazing what he has created and discovered from just a few lines on the back of 36 postcards.”

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk